Fear the Reaper

Chapter 15: Suspicion

Nine

"In order to get closer to the suspected host, I need to play a little bit nicer. Don't you think so?" tanong ko kay Seven, a.k.a Nine to Green and her pathetic friends.

"You mean you're gonna use a friendly tactic with them?" tanong nito habang nakaupo sa mesa at kumakain ng green na apple which kinda odd since she loves meat a lot.

"I already have Red of the werewolf clan almost in my palm but heck, what's with this mate thing?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Natawa si Seven.

"Don't you know about it?"

"Would I ask you if I knew about it?"

"Hmm," aniya then rubbed her chin after eating the apple.

"Mate is the werewolves' fate partner. For them, those tingling things when you were touched by them and the intoxicating scent that only them can smell, that is the sign. I heard a lot about it from Raven. And she said, mates are their forever's partner.

Napangiwi ako sa sinabi niya.

"That's bullshit," sagot ko sa kanya cringing about what she said.

"I agree," sagot niya. "Don't tell me, some werewolves have you as their mate? I suppose?"

Naupo ako sa aking trono bitbit ang isang wineglass.

"I'm not but Eight but I guess whatever. As long as I do what I need to do" sagot ko sa kanya.

Tumawa ito.

"That's still you, mistress," aniya. "You're mated with a werewolf? Don't you know once that the werewolf bite you as marking, you will never gonna escape from him, mistress. He'll be your hubby for the rest of his life since you are immortal," aniya.

Halos masuka ako sa sinabi niya.

"Me? Having a husband? Nope. That's not gonna happen," sagot ko sa kanya.

"Well, if you protect your neck, mistress. Do not let him bite you, and as far as I know, fate is hard to fight. But since you're the death that's probably easy-peasy for you. Just watch the thing they call pull."

"What pull?"

"That pull thing is that you and the wolf don't want to get separated. Like you only want to be with him all the time."

"Ohh pleassee," dramatik na sabi ko sa kanya na ikinatawa niya.

"Who's this unfortunate wolf?" tanong niya maya-maya.

"Raven's son. Red."

Nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata at tumawanng tuwama.

"Seriously? That guy?" aniya pa na hawak-hawaka ng kanyang tiyan sa kakatawa. "Of all werewolves, bakit siya pa? He is a freaking playboy though he's a drop dead hunk."

"And he has the thing that I wanted to secure," sagot ko sa kanya.

Sumeryoso ito. She knew what I'm saying.

"Too slow," sabi ng biglang litaw na si Neax kay Seven.

"Oh.. so you finally freed huh?" inis na sagot ni Seven dito na bigla na lang nagbago ang kanyang mood. Of course, I know a bit of history about these two.

"Why? Did you missed me?" tanong niya rito at lumapit pa sa kanya.

"The nerve! Of course not," sagot ni Seven, blushing.

"If not, why are you blushing huh?" anito.

Before I see what she is about to do, I flee away. I have something important to attend to. I teleported to Khestramore and changed a little bit of my appearance. I turned my black hair grey and my red and elliptical pupils' eyes turned to wine red in colour and round pupils.

I have to disguise myself to be able to get near that Archon. I need something from him. Something I need to confirm if my suspicion is true.

Once again, I found myself walking into Alfar. And I need to buy something.

Lumapit ako sa isang tindahan ng mga bulaklak.

"Magandang umaga binibi," nakangiting bati sa akin ng may edad ng lalaki na siyang nagtitinda ng mga bulaklak.

"Magandang umaga ho," nakangiting sagot ko sa kanya. "Maaari po bang nagtanong?" tanong ko sa kanya.

I know the elves of Alfar worshipped the three strongest Archons. If I pray to one of them maybe, just maybe, he'll show, won't I? I don't even know his name.

"Ano iyon,iha?" nakangiting tanong ng matandang babae.

"Alin po sa mga bulaklak na ito ang pwede ko pang ilagay sa mga statues ng mga Archons po?" tanong ko sa kanila giving them my warmness and sweetest smile.

Nakita kong kumuha ng tatlong bouquet ang matandang babae.

"Ito ang stargazer. Ito ang bulaklak na iniaalalay kay Xu, isa sa tatlong Archons. Ito naman ang moonflower na namumukadkad lang tuwing gabi ay paborito ni Cerulean. At ito naman ang Cereus. Ang halaman na ito ay namumulaklak lang isang beses sa isang taon at sa loob lamang ng isang gabi. Ang bulaklak na ito ay paborito ni Ein. Ayon sa sabi-sabi ay kapag nag-alay ka ng ganitong bulaklak sa rebulto ni Ein ay magpapakita siya sa iyo," nakangiting sabi pa niya.

"Talaga po? Magkano po ito?" tanong ko sa matanda

"Ibibigay ko na lang sa iyo, iha. Hindi ko alam kung kailan mamumulaklak iyan," sagot niya sa akin but I insist on giving her the gold bar I have with me. Hindi ko alam kung tinatanggap ba ito o hindi. "Tanggapin nyo na po itong bilang bayad," sabi ko pa.

Nakita kong nangilid ang luha ng mga mata ng matanda.

"Isa ka bang archon iha?" tanong niya.

"Hindi po," sagot ko sa kanya at saka ibinigay ang ginto sa kanya. "Inyo na po iyan," sabi ko pa at saka hinaplos ang likuran ng matanda.

I can see her lifespan. Konti na lang ang ilalagi niya sa Khetramore at nakikita ko rin problemang kinahaharap niya.

Palihim na lumitaw sa aking kamay ang isang boteng may likidong kulay asul. I know it's against my rules to help someone but I will if I need to and I want to.

"Heto po," sabi ko pa.

"Ano ito iha?" takang tanong niya.

"Gamot po sa lahat ng sakit. Naramdaman ko pong may mahal kayo sa buhay na may sakit. Ipainom nyo iyan at gagaling siya pagkatapos," sabi ko pa bago bibitbit ang isang paso ng cactus. "Aalis na po ako," paalam ko sa kanya na nakangiting kumaway sa akin habang hawak ang bote.

Life of my lord's creatures is shortened. The bodies that are the vessels of any life forms grow old in a certain time. And when they reach their limits, it will crumble and life must leave the body soon. That's why I came in. I am the one who severed the connection between the body and the soul and took them to Axis Mundi. I already saw countless creatures died, rich or poor, ugly or beautiful, witty or dumb, healthy or not. Death comes without warning. Ready or not, I will come to whoever is going to die.

Tumingala ako sa langit. Tanglaw ako ng buwan. Katulad din ito ng buwan sa Earth dangan lamang at may katabi pa itong isang buwan.

Sa gabing tahimik na ang lahat, mag-isa kong tinahak ang daan patungo sa rebulto ng Archon na tinatawag nilang Ein. I'm sure if this is the bastard whom I accidentally ride on. All I remember is the scent of his body and his eyes, his two amber eyes and his glowing yellow round pupils. If this Ein is the archon that I am looking for, I might guard myself up. No matter what just like that Red.

Inilapag ko ang paso ng cereus sa paanan ng rebulto. The statue of archon wears a hood and a skirt or something. But in my eyes, that's probably the clothes of a hermit. Nakita biglang namukadkad ang bulaklak ng cereus cactus. Ito marahil ang gabi kung kailan ito mamumulaklak

As the petals of the flowers spread, the alluring scent strikes my nose.

"Ang bango..," bulong ko sa aking sarali. I have never smelled such a flower in my whole life.

"May I know what is your prayer, Elfen," narinig kong may nagsalita sa aking likuran.

At base sa scent nito, it is the Archon that I am looking for! So his name is Ein? He is one of the big three archons? The strongest?

Dahan-dahan akong tumayo ay umikot upang maharap siya. Two luminescent amber eyes met my eyes. It was pitch dark and the only eyes that emit light is his and he's wearing a white hooded cloak.

"Hello Archon," bati ko sa kanya with the sweetest voice I can make.

"It's you," aniyang nanlalaki ang mga mata.

His luminescent eyes are staring directly at me.

"Cereus for you," nakangiting sabi ko pa. "It just bloom and-"

Hindi na natuloy ang sasabihin ko pa sana sa kanya ng hapitin nito ang aking bewang. Mabuti na lang at nasa pagitan namin ang paso ng cactus na kung saan ay pareho naming nasamyo ang halimuyak nito.

"I'm Ein. What's your name? Are you an Archon?" aniya na hindi nululubaybahan ang aking mukha sa kakatingin.

"I'm Six. And I'm not an archon. I'm just a lady that serves the Time," sagot ko sa kanya.

Napaamang siya.

"But the way you-"

Tinakpan ko ang mga labi niya ng paso.

"Those elves there weren't supposed to die yet so I need to prevent it since there's no place for the souls yet," sagot ko sa kanya.

He removes the pot and then sets it aside. He then resumes from embracing my waist.

Ugh.. he's fast as hell.

"So uhm why are you doing this? Can an Archon also be called a pervert?" natatawang tanong ko sa kanya.

"I don't care what you're gonna call me but you don't have any idea how long I have been searching for you," aniya.

"Huh? We only met once and that was uhmm the accident," sagot ko.

"Yeah the accident," aniya. "Shall we go somewhere else?" tanong niya sa akin na inilapit pa ang kanyang mukha na bahagyang yumuko.

He's freaking tall with a stern face. Hindi ko alam kung masaya ba itong nakita ako but his body language speaks so.

"Well, uhm sure. Lead the way please," sagot ko sa kanya.

I need to do everything. To confirm my suspicion, I have to get closer to him by any means.

He transported me to a place that looks so extravagant. Everything in this place is manly. The amberish gold and black paint of the place and furniture of choice are somewhat puzzling. It's like they are made of rock and yet when you sit there, it's very comfortable. The curtains are long that reach the ceiling to the floor. The colour matches the paint and outside, I can't see anything but the different formation of rocks. I'm wondering where in Khestramore are we?

"Welcome to my house," nakangiting sabi niya sa akin as he took off his white cloak that revealed his whole face.

He has a messy hairstyle with a fringe that hangs from the right side of his face. Some amber colored highlights of his hair glows making it look sexy. It fades from light brown to the tip and is pulled in a ponytail. I wonder how he looks if his hair is down. If I can label a man according to my taste, he's above average, no I think he belongs to the top.

I never had a man in my eternal life as long as I can remember since I became death. It is always me and my men and our work.

But We have a dangerous male here with me and very handsome indeed.

"You can take off your cloak if you want," sabi niya sa akin as he called one of his Xian.

Xians are Archons' trusted workers and they only bow to them.

"Ah of course," sagot ko sa kanya before taking off my cloak. Inside my cloak, I wear tight jeans and a black long sleeve shirt that define my body. And to finish my style, I paired it with two black knee army style boots. Somehow, human female clothings on Earth is what I like.

"What kind of clothes are you wearing?" tanong niya but I can see clearly from his eyes that he likes it.

"Why? Do I look like uhm ugly?" tanong ko sa kanya. "I saw humans wear this. And to blend with them, I have to wear this-"

Hindi ko natuloy ang sasabihin ko. Nagulat na lang ako ng makitang naka lip-lock na pala ang mga labi ni Ein sa akin.

Something made my chest burst with unfamiliar feelings and I heard a faint beating.

What the hell is that?